Chapter 1

My parents were pushing me into an arranged marriage with a 60-year-old billionaire.

My stepsister, Vivian, panicked and immediately called my three childhood best friends.

“Which one of you is willing to marry Iris? Otherwise, she’s going to have to marry that ugly old man!”

Ronnie, the guy I’d had a crush on for 10 years, frowned at Vivian.

“Vivian, you know perfectly well I like *you*.”

Noah, my high school deskmate, scoffed.

“Ha, like? You’re just the Sterling family’s butler’s son. How could you ever be good enough for Vivian?”

My friend, Alex, leaned back lazily on the couch.

“Iris, I’m already Vivian’s boyfriend! Sorry!”

I froze.

So, all these years, them hovering around me was all because of Vivian.

Fine. If that’s how it is, then I’ll marry the billionaire.

Vivian secretly glanced at Ronnie, her face flushing as she retorted.

“Alex, when did you become my boyfriend?”

Alex’s tone was firm.

“I will be, eventually.”

“Alex, you’re so foolish!”

Noah wagged a finger.

“Vivian, you can’t keep a guy like that. How about you be my girlfriend instead?”

Vivian cupped her face in exasperation.

“Alright, Alex, Noah, I really just see you two as brothers, stop messing with me.”

Ronnie’s lips curved slightly. He pulled her closer, subtly asserting his claim.

Alex’s face instantly darkened.

Noah punched the coffee table, the glass shattering with a crash, fragments flying everywhere.

Looking at the mess, I pointed towards the door.

“Gentlemen, if you want to confess, make a scene, or smash things, please turn right out the door. That’s Vivian’s room.”

But after I yelled, my heart felt hollow.

I didn’t understand why Ronnie liked Vivian.

When I was nine, Mom found out about Dad’s illegitimate daughter but chose to endure it. Yet, whenever she drank, she’d lash out at me, as I resembled Dad so much.

Ronnie would always rush over and shield me, laughing carelessly.

“Iris, don’t cry. Boys can take a hit; it’s fine.”

When I was fifteen, Dad filed for divorce, and Mom jumped from the rooftop.

Ronnie desperately covered my eyes and said,

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll always be with you.”

At eighteen, Dad brought his stepmother and stepsister home. I ran away, freezing unconscious under a bridge. That’s when Ronnie got angry with me for the first time.

“You’re upset and didn’t call me? You’re cold and didn’t crawl into my arms? You just had to hide in a place like this, waiting to die?”

I thought he’d always be by my side, that our marriage was only a matter of time.

“Iris, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize there wasn’t even one person willing to marry you.”

Vivian clasped her hands, pleading with the guys.

“Guys, don’t just stare at me! Iris is being forced to marry next week. Can you really stand by and watch her jump into a pit of fire? She’s only twenty-two, and that old man is sixty – he’s old enough to be her grandfather, even if he is the wealthiest man alive! If you have any conscience, you should step up and save her!”

Seeing their silence, she seemed to make a huge decision, speaking in a self-sacrificing tone.

“As long as one of you is willing to marry Iris, I… I’ll agree to anything.”

I was about to cut short her performance when Ronnie spoke in a low, reprimanding voice.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

He finally turned his gaze to me, his eyes dark.

“You want to help her, but how do you know this arranged marriage isn’t what *she* wants?”

Alex raised an eyebrow, his tone playful.

“After all, the other party is a billionaire. Even crumbs from his table would be enough to fill the Sterling family’s current hole.”

Noah suddenly understood, giving me a thumbs-up.

“So what if he’s sixty? That’s prime time to hustle!”